The World Bank Group is committed to helping countries deliver quality, affordable health services to their people. The situations that patients have described related to our clients in the Philippines and Uganda are difficult and heartbreaking. We are working with our clients to better understand the serious concerns these patients have raised and identify an appropriate course of action. We know that we can and must do better in our oversight and supervision of client service delivery.
IFC is reviewing our health services portfolio and strengthening our supervision of health services investments. We are putting additional ethical principles and practices into our appraisal and supervision process for these investments. Our clients’ commitment and ability to adhere to these standards, principles and practices is a critical factor in IFC’s decision-making regarding our health services investments. Going forward, IFC will not work with new clients who do not commit to – and follow – our standards, and ethical principles and practices for patient care.
More information on the World Bank Group’s approach to private healthcare and IFC’s due diligence practices can be found here.